Global Insights

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Network 20/20’s Global Insights is a series of moderated conversations that brings together a curious global audience to dig deeper into macro-level and region-specific trends shaping our world.

  1. What Iranians Want, From Trump and Their Future

    3 DAYS AGO

    What Iranians Want, From Trump and Their Future

    Visit us at Network2020.org.  The recent wave of protests and the subsequent crackdown in Iran have left a new round of scars on the beleaguered Islamic Republic. The broad-based upheaval has not only challenged the government’s grip on power but also raised critical questions about the stability of its system, the viability of alternatives, and the wishes of a population of a complex country. An energy superpower, Iran has tremendous potential that has been curbed by stifling sanctions. It has also seen its proxy networks in the region decimated since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. What is the way forward for the relatively isolated country? How might an unpredictable United States impact the fragile situation? And what are some of the scenarios for a region that has been destabilized by Iranian policies? Join us to explore the recent protests in Iran and how this upheaval might impact the future of Iran. Our speaker for this briefing will be Dr. Arash Azizi, Postdoctoral Associate and Lecturer at Yale University, Contributing Writer at the Atlantic, and a leading expert on Iranian history and political movements. Music by Sergii Pavkin from Pixabay.

    31 min
  2. U.S. Action in Venezuela: Assessing Strategic Implications

    3 FEB

    U.S. Action in Venezuela: Assessing Strategic Implications

    Visit us at Network2020.org.  The U.S. military’s recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has fundamentally altered the geopolitical landscape of the Western Hemisphere. This unprecedented intervention has not only removed a long-standing head of state but has also challenged established international norms regarding sovereignty and the employment of military force. Beyond the immediate headlines, the regional fallout remains deeply uncertain as neighboring nations may recalibrate their security postures and diplomatic ties in response to this sudden shift. What does the capture of Maduro mean for regional stability and the political cohesion of the Americas? What are the broader implications of the U.S. action and its new foreign policy approach to the region? How might volatile political dynamics in Venezuela impact U.S. strategic objectives? Join us for a discussion with Dr. Christopher Sabatini, Senior Fellow for Latin America at Chatham House and a leading expert on Latin American politics and foreign policy when he explores the broader implications of the U.S. military action in Venezuela and its potential repercussions on regional stability. Music by Sergii Pavkin from Pixabay.

    36 min
  3. The Global Order in Crisis: What Comes Next?

    27 JAN

    The Global Order in Crisis: What Comes Next?

    Visit us at Network2020.org.  Since the end of World War II, the global order has been shaped largely by a Western liberal system led by the United States. Yet, recent developments, from the release of the U.S. National Security Strategy to the January capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces have underscored what many observers of international affairs argue is the end of that liberal, rules-based order. At the same time, rapid technological advancement and the rise of other powers, particularly China, further complicate the picture, dispersing power, shifting economic and political ties, and, in some cases invigorating and redirecting global institutions. How dead is the U.S.-led rules-based order? What, if anything, might replace it? And what might such a transition look like? Will the emerging international system be relatively peaceful and cooperative, or defined by heightened competition and conflict? What roles will major powers play in shaping a new order or disorder or is reform of the existing rules-based system still possible? Finally, will the United States continue to act as a global enforcer, or retreat into a more unilateral and unpredictable role? Join us for a panel discussion featuring Professor Amitav Acharya, UNESCO Chair in Transnational Challenges and Governance, and Distinguished Professor at the School of International Service at American University, and author of The Once and Future World Order: Why Global Civilization Will Survive the Decline of the West; Professor Daniel Drezner, Academic Dean and Distinguished Professor of International Politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University; and Professor Stacie Goddard, the Betty Freyhof Johnson ’44 Professor of Political Science and Associate Provost for Wellesley in the World at Wellesley College. Together, they will explore these questions and assess what the future may hold for the international order. Music by Alex_Kizenkov from Pixabay.

    36 min
  4. Dollar Strength, Dollar Strain: Navigating a New Global Monetary Order

    20 JAN

    Dollar Strength, Dollar Strain: Navigating a New Global Monetary Order

    Visit us at Network2020.org.  The U.S. dollar has long anchored global trade, investment, and financial stability. Yet, in recent years, forces both within and outside of the United States are rethinking dollar dominance. President Trump’s proposed Mar-a-Lago Accord aims to devalue the dollar while retaining its global reserve status. Simultaneously, threats to Federal Reserve independence and Washington’s growing debt are eroding the value of the dollar, which is down over 5% in the last year vs other major currencies. Internationally, the BRICS nations are expanding trade in local currencies, to reduce exposure to U.S. sanctions and policies. These trends are prompting policymakers to reexamine the role of the dollar in the global economy. Is the era of uncontested dollar dominance ending? What would a more multipolar monetary order mean? Join us for a discussion with Dr. Otaviano Canuto, Senior Fellow at the Policy Center for the New South and Former Vice-President and Executive Director of the World Bank, and Dr. Jeffrey A. Frankel, Professor of Capital Formation and Growth at Harvard Kennedy School and former member of the Council of Economic Advisors. This conversation will unpack the drivers of de-dollarization, assess the real prospects for BRICS and other challengers, and explore the policy choices that will shape the future of the international monetary system. Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay.

    35 min
  5. Martin Wolf on The Economy in an Age of Uncertainty

    13 JAN

    Martin Wolf on The Economy in an Age of Uncertainty

    Visit us at Network2020.org.  The global economy has entered an age of confusion, roiled by trade wars and technology as it gained its post-pandemic footing. The global rise of populism and an AI-fueled market surge further complicate the story. The result? A world that feels less predictable, less secure, and far harder to govern. What explains the breakdown of the old order? Can the U.S. and China coexist without destabilizing the global system? What is the future of democratic capitalism ? Where do tariffs and industrial policy help or harm? And what kind of international framework could emerge from this era of disorder? Join us for a conversation with Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator at the Financial Times, as we examine what a world in economic disorder means for the future of growth, stability, and international cooperation. Music by Yurii Semchyshyn from Pixabay.

    35 min
  6. From Collapse to Confrontation: The U.S.–Venezuela Standoff

    7 JAN

    From Collapse to Confrontation: The U.S.–Venezuela Standoff

    Visit us at Network2020.org.  On January 3rd, U.S. forces launched a military strike on Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and flying him to New York to face federal narco-terrorism charges. President Trump announced the U.S. would "run the country" until a transition of power could take place. This episode was recorded before those events—but the conversation helps explain how we got here. Venezuela was once the wealthiest country in Latin America. Between 2012 and 2020, it experienced the largest peacetime economic collapse ever documented—a 71% decline in per capita GDP. After Hugo Chávez built a system dependent on oil revenue, the crash in global oil prices triggered an economic freefall. Nicolás Maduro's increasingly authoritarian rule, combined with hyperinflation, shortages, and soaring crime, drove roughly a quarter of the population to flee. As the crisis deepened, the United States responded with sweeping economic sanctions, framing drug trafficking and mass migration as national security threats. How did Venezuela reach this point? What role did U.S. policy play in the crisis? And was there ever a path toward stability that didn't end in military confrontation? Today we're joined by Francisco Rodríguez, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and Faculty Affiliate at the University of Denver's Korbel School of International Studies. He is the founder of Oil for Venezuela and author of The Collapse of Venezuela: Scorched Earth Politics and Economic Decline, 2012–2020. Music by SPmusic from Pixabay

    35 min
  7. Critical Minerals, Critical Choices: Africa’s Role in a Transitioning World

    16/12/2025

    Critical Minerals, Critical Choices: Africa’s Role in a Transitioning World

    Visit us at Network2020.org.  Africa sits at the center of the global energy transition. From cobalt and copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo to major infrastructure initiatives like the Lobito Corridor, the continent’s mineral wealth—an estimated 30% of the world’s supply—is now indispensable to green-energy supply chains. As global powers compete for influence and investments, African governments, private-sector leaders, and human rights organizations face mounting pressure to ensure this moment leads to long-term development rather than a repeat of extractive history. How are geopolitics impacting critical mineral competition in Africa? What safeguards are necessary to protect communities facing the social and environmental impacts of mineral extraction? And how can investment models, regulatory reforms, and geopolitical positioning converge to turn mineral wealth into inclusive and sustainable development? Join us for a conversation with Mr. Emmanuel Umpula Nkumba, Executive Director of AFREWATCH; and Mr. Christian-Géraud Neema, nonresident scholar in the Carnegie Africa Program and Africa Editor at the China-Global South Project. Music by Yurii Semchyshyn from Pixabay.

    36 min
  8. The New Arctic Order: Geopolitics at the Top of the World

    02/12/2025

    The New Arctic Order: Geopolitics at the Top of the World

    Visit us at Network2020.org.  The Arctic is rapidly moving to the center of global politics. Melting ice is opening new shipping lanes and granting access to vast, untapped natural resources. Russia has expanded its military footprint along its Arctic coastline and deepened regional cooperation with Beijing, while the United States and its allies are bolstering their strategic presence through joint drills and upgrades to security infrastructure. Greenland, with its valuable minerals and strategic location between North America and Europe, has also drawn renewed international interest. As the Arctic transforms, will it become a domain of cooperation or competition? And what will the consequences be for trade, energy security, and environmental sustainability? Join us for a discussion with Pavel Devyatkin, Senior Associate and Leadership Group member at The Arctic Institute; Ulrik Pram Gad, Senior Researcher in the Global Security and Worldviews unit at the Danish Institute for International Studies and Jennifer Spence, Director of the Arctic Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.  Music by Sergii Pavkin from Pixabay.

    32 min
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About

Network 20/20’s Global Insights is a series of moderated conversations that brings together a curious global audience to dig deeper into macro-level and region-specific trends shaping our world.

Information

  • Creator
    Network 20/20
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    121
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Global Insights
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    Global Insights